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camiandkitread's reviews
375 reviews
The Hitler Youth 1933-45 by Alan Dearn
informative
fast-paced
4.75
Excellent comprehensive history of the Hitler Youth. Filmed with many clear photographs of the uniform and equipment used and many interesting anecdotes.
The inclusion of fictitious characters and weaving their whole story through the book felt a little out of place, but I get what Dearn was going for.
The inclusion of fictitious characters and weaving their whole story through the book felt a little out of place, but I get what Dearn was going for.
Women at War, 1939-45 by Jack Cassin-Scott
informative
fast-paced
4.0
If you need a quick reference for the uniforms worn by different women in some of the major powers involved in WWII—British, American, German, and Russian—this will do the trick.
Primarily focuses on British women and German women at war. American women and Russian women are secondary and Italian women and partisans barely get a mention. RIP, Canadian women.
The sections on nurses uniforms were absolutely pathetic.
Primarily focuses on British women and German women at war. American women and Russian women are secondary and Italian women and partisans barely get a mention. RIP, Canadian women.
The sections on nurses uniforms were absolutely pathetic.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this book when my dad read it to me on trips and I loved revisiting it as an adult.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Death
America: The Last Best Hope (Volume I): From the Age of Discovery to a World at War by William J. Bennett
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Definitely nationalistic and emphasizes American Exceptionalism. But Bennett shares in a conversational tone the major highlights of American history—from its “discovery” to the dawn of World War I. There are some interesting facts and anecdotes to keep the reader’s interest piqued.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918 by Alfred W. Crosby
informative
slow-paced
4.5
Excellent history of the “mother of all pandemics,” Spanish Influenza.
Crosby definitely spends a little more time on WWI politics than I think was strictly necessary, but it did add some variety to the information. Near the end, he also really got into the weeds on how pigs gets swine flu and, I gotta say, that was disgusting and not something I needed to know. The connections between Spanish Flu and Swine Flu were exceptionally compelling though.
Crosby definitely spends a little more time on WWI politics than I think was strictly necessary, but it did add some variety to the information. Near the end, he also really got into the weeds on how pigs gets swine flu and, I gotta say, that was disgusting and not something I needed to know. The connections between Spanish Flu and Swine Flu were exceptionally compelling though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Medical content, Death of parent, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A little boring + kind of racist = classic American children’s book?
Loved it as a kid when I had a hyperfixation on pioneers but as an adult I don’t really get the popularity resurgence with people in my age bracket revisiting it.
Loved it as a kid when I had a hyperfixation on pioneers but as an adult I don’t really get the popularity resurgence with people in my age bracket revisiting it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation
Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
“Where the Library Hides”picks up pretty darn close to where “What the River Knows” left off and readers are tossed back into the story.
I’d had really high hopes for the first book and was disappointed by the girl boss-ification of the main character and the poor pacing. I liked “What the River Knows” but had wanted to love it.
I went into “Where the Library Hides”more cautiously, hoping to like it but not expecting much. The pacing was still poor but the characters seemed a little stronger. We did have to rehash the same situation every few paragraphs, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as “Iron Flame” so I was grateful for that.
The action scenes were good, the magic system is still very creative. The characters were a little less annoying. The plot was still adequate. But truthfully, just watch “The Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns.” This borders on decently-executed AU fan fiction of the movies but it would be quicker to just go to the source.
I’d had really high hopes for the first book and was disappointed by the girl boss-ification of the main character and the poor pacing. I liked “What the River Knows” but had wanted to love it.
I went into “Where the Library Hides”more cautiously, hoping to like it but not expecting much. The pacing was still poor but the characters seemed a little stronger. We did have to rehash the same situation every few paragraphs, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as “Iron Flame” so I was grateful for that.
The action scenes were good, the magic system is still very creative. The characters were a little less annoying. The plot was still adequate. But truthfully, just watch “The Mummy” and “The Mummy Returns.” This borders on decently-executed AU fan fiction of the movies but it would be quicker to just go to the source.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
The “Mandie” books were some of my favorites when I was growing up and I figured it was time to revisit them, starting with “Mandie and the Secret Tunnel,” since it was the first one in the series and the very first Mandie book I ever owned, having bought it at the library for a quarter.
It’s not quite as good as I remembered, but the nostalgia goggles are still on so I did enjoy my reread after so many years.
It’s not quite as good as I remembered, but the nostalgia goggles are still on so I did enjoy my reread after so many years.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
Addy's Story Collection by Dahl Taylor, Connie Rose Porter
emotional
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Rereading the Addy books as an adult I realize that they’re really the best of the original historical doll books. Addy and her family dealt with very real, very difficult experiences in their lives and the author doesn’t shy away from that.
Addy was enslaved and abused by an enslaver and others in power over her before she and her mother emancipated themselves. When they arrived in Philadelphia, Addy realized that life wasn’t going to be easy now that she was free. She still dealt with racism, separation from her father and siblings, as well as bullying from her classmates.
The themes are all presented in a way that’s appropriate for younger readers but doesn’t pull any punches. If reading with a younger child—or even an older child—be prepared to talk to them about what enslaved peoples experienced before, during, and after the Civil War.
Addy was enslaved and abused by an enslaver and others in power over her before she and her mother emancipated themselves. When they arrived in Philadelphia, Addy realized that life wasn’t going to be easy now that she was free. She still dealt with racism, separation from her father and siblings, as well as bullying from her classmates.
The themes are all presented in a way that’s appropriate for younger readers but doesn’t pull any punches. If reading with a younger child—or even an older child—be prepared to talk to them about what enslaved peoples experienced before, during, and after the Civil War.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Racism, Slavery, and Grief
Minor: Physical abuse, War, and Injury/Injury detail
The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Excellent overview of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr.
Antonia Fraser focuses on each woman separately, even dividing the book up into one section for each of the six women, but when overlap between the wives occurred she explained things well enough to not let the reader get too confused. Fraser also provided a good amount of background on the other people at court who were involved in the rise and fall of each wife, which provided useful contact.
Most importantly, this book doesn’t portray them as only wives or only victims. Rather, Fraser gives insight into each woman’s personal life and interests, which did not revolve around Henry VIII regardless of what he imagined. Fraser granted them dignity and individualism when they are so often lumped together as just “The Six Wives of Henry VIII.”
Antonia Fraser focuses on each woman separately, even dividing the book up into one section for each of the six women, but when overlap between the wives occurred she explained things well enough to not let the reader get too confused. Fraser also provided a good amount of background on the other people at court who were involved in the rise and fall of each wife, which provided useful contact.
Most importantly, this book doesn’t portray them as only wives or only victims. Rather, Fraser gives insight into each woman’s personal life and interests, which did not revolve around Henry VIII regardless of what he imagined. Fraser granted them dignity and individualism when they are so often lumped together as just “The Six Wives of Henry VIII.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexism, Torture, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail